Convertible floor mat apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A floor mat having a first surface, and a second surface; and a friction-increasing element removably affixed to the second surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/591,219, entitled “Convertible Floor MatApparatus and Method,” filed on Jan. 26, 2012, all of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept relates to a floor coveringapparatus and method, and more particularly to convertible floor matapparatus for use on various types of floors, a method of manufacture ofthe apparatus, and a method of use of the apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chair mats for protecting flooring material from damage and wear fromchair rollers are well known. Generally, chair mats consist of a flatpanel made of a material that is suitable to prevent wear and tear onthe underlying flooring material. In some instances, the chair mat mayinclude short spikes on the underside of the flat panel to hold thechair mat firmly in place on a textured flooring material such ascarpeting. While chair mats with short spikes improve the placement of achair mat on textured flooring material, they are not always suitablefor use with relatively smooth flooring materials like wood or tiledfloor. Conversely, chair mats with a flat panel having a generallysmooth underside may slip out of place on textured flooring material.Accordingly, there is a need for a convertible floor covering thatprovides a protective barrier between a chair and an underlying surfaceregardless of its surface material and texture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept relates to a convertible floorcovering or convertible floor mat that is particularly ideal for use onboth smooth and non-smooth or textured surfaces, for instance, as achair mat to provide a protective barrier between a chair and thesurface. In this manner, the mat protects the surface during use ofchair on the mat.

The present general inventive concept is convertible between twoconfigurations, which is based on intended application of the presentgeneral inventive concept by a user. In a first embodiment, the presentgeneral inventive concept includes a body having upper and lowergenerally smooth, planar surfaces that are parallel to each other andare spaced from each other by an outermost perimeter edge that extendsentirely about the body.

In an embodiment, as illustrated the present general inventive conceptincludes a body having upper and lower generally smooth, planar surfacesthat are parallel or substantially parallel to each other and are spacedfrom each other by an outermost perimeter edge that extends entirelyabout the body.

In another embodiment a floor mat includes a body having a firstsurface, and a second surface and a friction-increasing element having athird surface and a fourth surface, the third surface removably affixedto the second surface. In this embodiment the first surface and thesecond surface are parallel or substantially parallel to each other andspaced from each other by an outermost perimeter edge that extends aboutthe body. Additionally, the third surface and the fourth surface arefacing each other and are spaced from each other by an outermostperimeter edge that extends about a body of the friction-increasingelement.

In another embodiment the second surface includes at least one receiverregion, each of which is configured to receive one friction-increasingelement thereon.

In another embodiment, the second surface includes at least one graphicdesign that is arranged on the second surface.

In another embodiment there is an adhesive pad between thefriction-increasing element and the second surface to permanently adherethe friction-increasing element to the body.

In another embodiment, the fourth surface is textured. Further, in thisembodiment, the textured surface can include at least one stud. Yetfurther, the textured surface can include a plurality of studs, whereeach of the plurality of studs are of the same length, of varyinglengths, or both.

Another embodiment includes a method for manufacturing a floor mat thatincludes the steps of providing a body having a first surface, and asecond surface and removably affixing a friction-increasing elementhaving a third surface and a fourth surface to the second surface. Inthis embodiment, the first surface and the second surface are parallelor substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other by anoutermost perimeter edge that extends about the body, and the thirdsurface and the fourth surface are facing each other and are spaced fromeach other by an outermost perimeter edge that extends about a body ofthe friction-increasing element.

In another embodiment, the floor mat includes a body having a firstsurface, and a second surface and at least one receiver region on thesecond surface, the receiver region configured to receive afriction-increasing element thereon. In this embodiment, the firstsurface and the second surface are parallel or substantially parallel toeach other and spaced from each other by an outermost perimeter edgethat extends about the body. Further, in this embodiment thefriction-increasing element comprises a third surface and a fourthsurface, and the third surface is removably affixed to the secondsurface.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the artupon examination of the following figures and detailed description. Itis intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective underside view of a first embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept illustrating a friction-increasingelement attached to a body;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating an ideal minimum amount offriction-increasing elements attached to the body;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating an ideal medium amount offriction-increasing elements attached to the body;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating an ideal maximum amount offriction-increasing elements attached to the body;

FIG. 5 is an elevated side view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating a friction-increasing element and anadhesive pad exploded from the body and above a non-smooth surface;

FIG. 6 is an elevated side view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating a friction-increasing element and anadhesive pad attached to the body and resting on the non-smooth surface;

FIG. 7 is a perspective underside view of a second embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept illustrating a friction-increasingelement attached to a body;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 7, illustrating an ideal medium amount offriction-increasing elements attached to the body;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 7, illustrating an ideal medium amount of frictionincreasing elements attached to the body;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 7, illustrating an ideal maximum amount offriction-increasing elements attached to the body;

FIG. 11 is an elevated side view of the present general inventiveconcept illustrated in FIG. 7, illustrating a friction-increasingelement and an adhesive pad exploded from the body and above anon-smooth surface; and

FIG. 12 is an elevated side view of the present general inventiveconcept illustrated in FIG. 7, illustrating a friction-increasingelement and an adhesive pad attached to the body and resting on thenon-smooth surface.

FIG. 13 is an elevated side view of a third embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept illustrates a friction-increasing elementattached to the body via an adhesive.

FIG. 14 is a perspective underside view of a fourth embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept illustrating a friction-increasingelement exploded from the body underneath where a design is located.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept relates to a convertible floorcovering or convertible floor mat that is particularly ideal for use onboth smooth and non-smooth or textured surfaces, for instance, as achair mat to provide a protective barrier between a chair and thesurface. In this manner, the mat protects the surface during use ofchair on the mat.

The present general inventive concept is convertible between at leasttwo configurations, which is based on intended application of thepresent general inventive concept by a user. In a first embodiment, asillustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the present general inventive concept includesa body 10 having upper and lower planar surfaces 12, 14, that areparallel or substantially parallel to each other and are spaced fromeach other by an outermost perimeter edge 16 that extends entirely aboutthe body 10. The planar surfaces can be smooth, relatively smooth orinclude various textures well known to those of ordinary skill in theart such as multiple planar surfaces, grooves, ribbing or dimples.

The body 10 is of a generally uniform thickness and may be made of amaterial such as, but not limited to rubber, plastic, and/or the like,that is sufficiently durable to withstand wear and/or tear depending onand during use of the present general inventive concept, e.g., tosupport a chair on the upper surface 12 or lower surface 14 of the body10. The body 10 may be made of a material that is transparent,translucent, opaque, and/or a combination thereof. The body 10 may havea pattern, for instance, on the upper surface 12 of the body, to form adesign thereon. The body 10 may be made of a material that istransparent, translucent, opaque, and/or a combination thereof.

The lower surface 14 of the body 10 includes a plurality of receiverregions 20 on and about an area of the lower surface 14 of the body 10,as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. The receiver regions 20 are sized andshaped to selectively receive one or a plurality of friction-increasingelements 22 thereon so that each of the friction-increasing elements 22are securely affixed to the lower surface 14 of the body 10. It isforeseen that each of the friction-increasing elements 22 may beremovably affixed to the lower surface 14 of the body 10 to permitselective removal and affixing of each of the friction-increasingelements 22 by the user, permanently affixed so that removal of each ofthe friction-increasing elements 22 by the user after affixing isprevented, and/or a combination thereof, without deviating from thescope of the present general inventive concept.

Each of the friction-increasing elements 22 include upper and lowergenerally planar surfaces 24, 26 that are parallel or substantiallyparallel to each other and are spaced from each other by an outermostperimeter edge 28 that extends entirely about a body 30 of each of thefriction-increasing elements 22. The upper surface 24 is generallysmooth and, in the first embodiment, the lower surface 26 may betextured to increase friction between the surface 26 and an objectcontacting the surface 26, e.g., a carpet 32. The textured surface 26may be formed via a hook and loop fastener material such as Velcro™ orthe like.

Each of the friction-increasing elements 22 may be of like or dissimilarshapes and sizes. It is foreseen that each of the friction-increasingelements 22 may be circular, square, rectangular, or a combinationthereof without deviating from the scope of the present generalinventive concept.

In the first embodiment, an adhesive pad 40 is provided between each ofthe friction-increasing elements 22 and the body 10 to permanently orremovably adhere each of the friction-increasing elements 22 to the body10. Particularly, each of the adhesive pads 40 are secured to the lowersurface 14 of the body 10 and the upper surface 24 of each of thefriction-increasing elements 22 via an adhesive such as glue or thelike. For instance, the friction-increasing elements 22 may be providedwith peel-off elements that, when peeled off, expose a sticky oradhesive surface on opposing sides of the friction-increasing elements22. In this manner, the friction-increasing elements 22 may be affixedto the body 10 of the present general inventive concept via the user,e.g., an end user, post manufacture and purchaser depending on a desiredapplication of the present general inventive concept.

When the user desires to utilize the present general inventive concepton a generally smooth surface, e.g., hardwood, tile, slate, linoleum,concrete, and/or the like, the user need not attach any of thefriction-increasing elements 22 to the body 10. In this manner, the usercan avoid damaging the smooth surface and/or premature wearing of thebody 10.

When the user desired to utilize the present general inventive concepton a generally non-smooth surface, e.g., the carpet 32 or the like. Theuser attaches at least one and preferably a plurality of thefriction-increasing elements 22 to the lower surface 14 of the body 10with each of the friction-increasing elements 22 being affixed to thebody 10 within one of the receiver regions 20. Not all of the receiverregions 20 need be used, with such used dependent on a desiredapplication of the present general inventive concept by the user. Forinstance, if the body 10 is particularly large and/or is to be used witha particularly heavy load, e.g., a heavy-weight chair, it is desirableto utilize more friction-increasing elements 22, as illustrated in FIG.4. Alternatively, if the body 10 is particularly small and/or is to beused with a particularly light load, e.g., a light-weight chair, it isdesirable to utilize less friction-increasing elements 22, asillustrated in FIG. 2. For example, the weight of the chair, the user orboth may be inversely proportionate to the number of friction-increasingelements 22. Alternatively, if the body 10 is between particularly largeand small and/or is to be used with a load that is between particularlylight and heavy, e.g., a medium-weight chair, it is desirable to utilizea medium amount of friction-increasing elements 22, as illustrated inFIG. 3. In this manner, the user can heighten friction between the body10 and the carpet 32.

In a second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-12, the presentgeneral inventive concept includes a body 110 having upper and lowergenerally smooth, planar surfaces 112, 114, that are facing each otherand are spaced from each other by an outermost perimeter edge 116 thatextends entirely about the body 110. The planar surfaces 112 and 114 canalso be parallel to each other or substantially parallel to each other.

The body 110 is of a generally uniform thickness and may be made of amaterial such as, but not limited to rubber, plastic, and/or the like,that is sufficiently durable to withstand wear and/or tear depending onand during use of the present general inventive concept, e.g., tosupport a chair on the upper surface 112 of the body 110. The body 110may be made of a material that is transparent, translucent, opaque,and/or a combination thereof. The body 110 may have a pattern, forinstance, on the upper surface 112 or the lower surface 114 of the body,to form a design thereon. The body 110 may be made of a material that istransparent, translucent, opaque, and/or a combination thereof.

The lower surface 114 of the body 110 includes a plurality of receiverregions 120 on and about an area of the lower surface 114 of the body110, as illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. The receiver regions 120 are sizedand shaped to selectively receive one or a plurality offriction-increasing elements 122 thereon so that each of thefriction-increasing elements 122 are securely affixed to the lowersurface 114 of the body 110. It is foreseen that each of thefriction-increasing elements 122 may be removably affixed to the lowersurface 114 of the body 110 to permit selective removal and affixing ofeach of the friction-increasing elements 122 by the user, permanentlyaffixed so that removal of each of the friction-increasing elements 122by the user after affixing is prevented, and/or a combination thereofwithout deviating from the scope of the present general inventiveconcept.

Each of the friction-increasing elements 122 include upper and lowergenerally planar surfaces 124, 126 that are parallel or substantiallyparallel to each other and are spaced from each other by an outermostperimeter edge 128 that extends entirely about a body 130 of each of thefriction-increasing elements 122. The upper surface 124 is generallysmooth and, in the second embodiment, the lower surface 126 may betextured to increase friction between the surface 126 and an objectcontacting the surface 126, e.g., a carpet 132. The textured surface 126may be formed via at least one and preferably a plurality of studs 133on each of the friction-increasing elements 122. In the secondembodiment, each of plurality of studs 133 are of the same length, i.e.,extending perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces 124, 126. It isforeseen, however, that each of plurality of studs 133 may be of varyinglengths, angles or both relative to each other without deviating fromthe scope of the present general inventive concept.

Each of the friction-increasing elements 122 may be of like ordissimilar shapes and sizes. It is foreseen that each of thefriction-increasing elements 122 may be circular, square, rectangular,or a combination thereof, without deviating from the scope of thepresent general inventive concept.

In the second embodiment, an adhesive pad 140 is provided between eachof the friction-increasing elements 122 and the body 110 to permanentlyor removably adhere each of the friction-increasing elements 122 to thebody 110. Particularly, each of the adhesive pads 140 are secured to thelower surface 114 of the body 110 and the upper surface 124 of each ofthe friction-increasing elements 122 via an adhesive such as glue or thelike. For instance, the friction-increasing elements 122 may be providedwith peel-off elements that, when peeled off, expose a sticky oradhesive surface on opposing sides of the friction-increasing elements122. In this manner, the friction-increasing elements 122 may be affixedto the body 110 of the present general inventive concept via the user,e.g., an end user, post manufacture and purchase depending on a desiredapplication of the present general inventive concept.

When the user desires to utilize the present general inventive concepton a generally smooth surface, e.g., hardwood, tile, slate, linoleum,concrete, and/or the like, the user need not attach any of thefriction-increasing elements 122 to the body 110. In this manner, theuser can avoid damaging the smooth surface and/or premature wearing ofthe body 110.

When the user desired to utilize the present general inventive concepton a generally non-smooth surface, e.g., the carpet 132 or the like. Theuser attaches at least one and preferably a plurality of thefriction-increasing elements 122 to the lower surface 114 of the body110 with each of the friction-increasing elements 122 being affixed tothe body 110 within one of the receiver regions 120. Not all of thereceiver regions 120 need be used, with such used dependent on a desiredapplication of the present general inventive concept by the user. Forinstance, if the body 110 is particularly large and/or is to be usedwith a particularly heavy load, e.g., a heavy-weight chair, it isdesirable to utilize more friction-increasing elements 122, asillustrated in FIG. 10. For example, the weight of the chair, the useror both may be inversely proportionate to the number offriction-increasing elements 122. Alternatively, if the body 110 isparticularly small and/or is to be used with a particularly light load,e.g., a light-weight chair, it is desirable to utilize lessfriction-increasing elements 122, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Alternatively, if the body 110 is between particularly large and smalland/or is to be used with a load that is between particularly light andheavy, e.g., a medium-weight chair, it is desirable to utilize a mediumamount of friction-increasing elements 122, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Inthis manner, the user can heighten friction between the body 110 and thecarpet 132.

In the third embodiment, the body 210 is of a generally uniformthickness and may be made of a material such as, but not limited torubber, plastic, and/or the like, that is sufficiently durable towithstand wear and/or tear depending on and during use of the presentgeneral inventive concept, e.g., to support a chair on the upper surface212 of the body 210. The body 210 may be made of a material that istransparent, translucent, opaque, and/or a combination thereof. The body210 may have a pattern, for instance, on the lower r surface 214 of thebody, to form a design thereon.

In the third embodiment, shown in FIG. 13 one or a plurality offriction-increasing elements 222 can be permanently or removably affixedto the lower surface 214 of the body 210 via an adhesive coating such asglue or the like. For instance, the lower surface 212 may be providedwith peel-off elements that, when peeled off, expose a sticky oradhesive surface. Further, the adhesive coating can be applied to all ora portion of the lower surface 214. In this manner, thefriction-increasing elements 222 may be affixed to the body 210 wherethe adhesive coating is present. Alternatively, the adhesive coating canbe applied to the upper surface 224 of each of the friction-increasingelements 222 via an adhesive such as glue or the like and then attachedto the lower surface 214 of the body.

It is foreseen that each of the friction-increasing elements 222 may beremovably affixed to the lower surface 214 of the body 210 to permitselective removal and affixing of each of the friction-increasingelements 222 by the user, permanently affixed so that removal of each ofthe friction-increasing elements 222 by the user after affixing isprevented, and/or a combination thereof, without deviating from thescope of the present general inventive concept.

Each of the friction-increasing elements 222 include upper and lowergenerally planar surfaces 224, 226 that are parallel or substantiallyparallel to each other and are spaced from each other by an outermostperimeter edge 228 that extends entirely about a body 230 of each of thefriction-increasing elements 222. The upper surface 224 is generallysmooth and, in the third embodiment, the lower surface 226 is texturedto increase friction between the surface 226 and an object contactingthe surface 226, e.g., a carpet 232.

Each of the friction-increasing elements 222 may be of like ordissimilar shapes and sizes. It is foreseen that each of thefriction-increasing elements 222 may be circular, square, rectangular,or a combination thereof without deviating from the scope of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

As in the other embodiments of the present invention, when the userdesires to utilize the present general inventive concept on a generallysmooth surface, e.g., hardwood, tile, slate, linoleum, concrete, and/orthe like, the user may, but does not need to attach any of thefriction-increasing elements 222 to the body 210. In this manner, theuser can avoid damaging the smooth surface and/or premature wearing ofthe body 210.

When the user desires to utilize the present general inventive concepton a generally non-smooth surface, e.g., the carpet 232 or the like. Theuser attaches at least one and preferably a plurality of thefriction-increasing elements 222 to the lower surface 214 of the body210 with each of the friction-increasing elements 222 being affixed tothe body 210 via an adhesive coating. Since the friction-increasingelements 222 are affixed to the body 210 via an adhesive coating, thelocation of the friction-increasing elements can vary. Further, thelocation of the friction-increasing elements is not necessarilypre-determined by the placement of a receiver region 20. It is alsocontemplated that the friction-increasing elements 222 may be affixed tothe body 210 via an adhesive where the body 210 includes one or morereceiver regions described above in embodiments 1 and 2 of the presentinvention. In this case, the friction-increasing elements 222 can beaffixed to the body 210 via an adhesive coating, a receiver region orboth.

This third embodiment permits the number and location of thefriction-increasing elements 222 to vary based on the size of the body210 and the weight of the load e.g., a light-weight chair, it isdesirable to utilize less friction-increasing elements 222, asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the fourth embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, the lower surface 314 of thebody 310 can include an image, design, graphic design 400 or the likeprinted on, laminated to or applied to the lower surface 314. Thegraphic design 400 can be printed with an ink printer or another methodknown to those of ordinary skill in the art. An additional coating orcoatings can cover the graphic design so serve as a protective orsealant. The graphic design 400 could also be printed or laminated onthe top surface 312 of the body 310. The graphic design 400 can be adecorative image that covers all or a portion of the surface it isprovided on. The friction-increasing elements can applied to the mat inthis embodiment in the same manner as any of the above describedembodiments.

As in the other embodiments of the present invention, when the userdesires to utilize the present general inventive concept on a generallysmooth surface, e.g., hardwood, tile, slate, linoleum, concrete, and/orthe like, the user need not attach any of the friction-increasingelements 322 to the body 310. In this manner, the user can avoiddamaging the smooth surface and/or premature wearing of the body 310.Further the shape, size, and texture of the upper and lower generallyplanar surfaces of the friction-increasing element 322 can vary.

In a fifth embodiment of the invention, the floor mat is a kit thatincludes a floor mat with at least one receiver unit on the lowersurface of the floor mat body and at least one friction-increasingelement. In the kit, the friction-increasing elements can be secured toa corresponding receiver unit and left in place by the user or removedto adapt the floor mat body for a particular floor surface.Alternatively, the friction-increasing elements can be included in thekit, but not secured to a corresponding receiver unit, allowing a userto add each of one or more friction-increasing elements to acorresponding receiver unit. Alternatively, the kit could include afloor mat with one or more graphic designs on the lower surface asdescribed in the fourth embodiment. Ultimately, the floor mat kit couldcomprise any of the elements of the above described embodiments.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described,it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to berestricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A floor mat comprising: a body having a firstsurface, and a second surface; and a friction-increasing element havinga third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface removablyaffixed to the second surface, wherein, the first surface and the secondsurface are substantially parallel or parallel to each other and spacedfrom each other by an outermost perimeter edge that extends about thebody, and the third surface and the fourth surface facing to each otherand are spaced from each other by an outermost perimeter edge thatextends about a body of the friction-increasing element.
 2. The floormat according to claim 1, wherein the second surface includes at leastone receiver region, each receiver region configured to receive onefriction-increasing element thereon.
 3. The floor mat according to claim1, wherein the second surface includes at least one graphic designprinted or applied thereon.
 4. The floor mat according to claim 3,wherein the third surface of the friction-increasing element is affixedto the second surface of the body via an adhesive coating.
 5. The floormat according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive pad is between thefriction-increasing element and the second surface to permanently adherethe friction-increasing element to the body.
 6. The floor mat accordingto claim 1, wherein the fourth surface is textured.
 7. The floor mataccording to claim 4, wherein the textured surface comprises at leastone stud.
 8. The floor mat according to claim 4 wherein the texturedsurface comprises a plurality of studs, each of the plurality of studsare of the same length, of varying lengths, or both.
 9. The floor mataccording to claim 8 wherein the studs are at varying angles to eachother.
 10. A method for manufacturing a floor mat comprising the stepsof : providing a body having a first surface, and a second surface; andremovably affixing a friction-increasing element having a third surfaceand a fourth surface to the second surface, wherein, the first surfaceand the second surface are substantially parallel or parallel to eachother and spaced from each other by an outermost perimeter edge thatextends about the body, and the third surface and the fourth surface arefacing each other and are spaced from each other by an outermostperimeter edge that extends about a body of the friction-increasingelement.
 11. A floor mat comprising: a body having a first surface, anda second surface; and at least one receiver region on the secondsurface, the receiver region configured to receive a friction-increasingelement thereon. wherein, the first surface and the second surface aresubstantially parallel or parallel to each other and spaced from eachother by an outermost perimeter edge that extends about the body. 11.The floor mat according to claim 10 wherein: the friction-increasingelement comprises a third surface and a fourth surface, the thirdsurface removably affixed to the second surface, and the third surfaceand the fourth surface are facing each other and are spaced from eachother by an outermost perimeter edge that extends about a body of thefriction-increasing element.